CLEAN ENERGY: Illinois lawmakers advance a clean energy bill backed by labor groups that includes requiring advance notice of coal plant closures and support for displaced workers. (Energy News Network)

ALSO: An Indiana bill that sought statewide siting standards for utility-scale wind and solar projects dies on the Senate floor. (Indianapolis Star)

***SPONSORED LINK: Join Renew Missouri for its webinar “The Deep Freeze: SPP, Texas, and What to Do (and Not Do) in the Future” with Kevin Gunn of Paladin Energy on April 26th at 1:30pm. Only $75 with an hour of Missouri CLE credit. (KS pending. Others by request.) Sign up today! ***

NUCLEAR:
• Two Illinois nuclear plants scheduled to close should get $350 million in ratepayer subsidies over five years to stay open, according to a study commissioned by the Pritzker administration. (WBEZ)
• Advocates continue to build support for keeping open the plants as Illinois lawmakers consider multiple clean energy bills. (WTVO)

OIL & GAS: Plugging hundreds of thousands of oil and gas wells and reclaiming abandoned mining lands in central Appalachia could create thousands of jobs while limiting public health risks, a new report finds. (Ohio Valley Resource)

POWER PLANTS: A startup company looks to build the first zero-emission natural gas plants, including one in Illinois, that capture emissions on site and bury them underground. (Bloomberg)

PIPELINES: A decision last week allowing the Dakota Access pipeline to remain open could be a short-lived victory for the project ahead of a federal court ruling expected next month, analysts say. (S&P Global)

ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE: A University of Michigan researcher is among 26 members of a council advising the Biden administration on environmental justice issues. (Bridge Michigan)

SOLAR:
• Tree clearing began this month to prepare roughly two square miles for a 150 MW solar project in central Wisconsin. (WSAW)
• County officials approve 10-year tax incentives for a planned $180 million solar project in western Indiana. (Pharos Tribune)

ELECTRIC VEHICLES: Illinois is on pace to see 83% job growth in electric vehicle-related work by 2024 even without legislative action, according to a new report. (Southern Illinoisan)

***SPONSORED LINK: The Midwest Building Decarbonization Coalition via Fresh Energy is hiring for a Manager of Building Policy and Technology contractor to play a lead role in developing strategy and resources in support of local, state, and regional advocates. Learn more.***

POLICY: A flurry of federal lobbying activity comes as lawmakers consider several proposals for clean energy standards. (E&E News, subscription)

COMMENTARY:
• Minnesota officials should pursue market-based approaches to grow electric vehicle adoption rather than adopting California mandates, says the founder of a solar company and treasurer for the Sunrise Movement. (MinnPost)
• Electrifying homes and commercial buildings could lead to significant emission reductions in Missouri, clean energy advocates say. (Missouri Times)

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Andy Balaskovitz

Andy compiles the Midwest Energy News digest and was a journalism fellow for Midwest Energy News from 2014-2020. He is managing editor of MiBiz in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and was formerly a reporter and editor at City Pulse, Lansing’s alternative newsweekly.